11 Things We Learned From TV and Movie Dads

11 Things We Learned From TV and Movie Dads

Let’s be real, dads get a bad rap in the media. We’re talking Vanilla Ice’s “Ninja Rap” bad. More often than not, they’re either pop lockin’ Soul Train-style after learning they aren’t the father or they’re selfish man-children who have more toys than brain cells. With Father’s Day upon us, it’s time to give props to the great ones from movies and TV who have given us wisdom, made us laugh, and been a metaphorical shoulder for us to cry on. And while I’m at it, here’s a shout out to my pops, Phillip Robinson Sr.: Love you. Thanks for everything.

All Dads Should Do a Faux Driving Lesson Before Letting Their Kids Do the Real Thing

When I was 16, my dad almost ended up like Kill Bill Vol. 1’s O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu) a.k.a. his scalp nearly flew off thanks to my attempting an insane left turn into the Target parking lot as the light is turning red. Sound familiar? Perhaps I wouldn’t have accidentally scared my pops with a Nascar impression if he opted to do a dry run like Family Ties’ Steven Keaton (Michael Gross) does with daughter, Jennifer (Tina Yothers). In this hysterical scene, they mime her almost hitting a bicycle, running a red light, and speeding away from a police officer. Sure, these are all bad things, but it’s good she got it out of her system before she hit the road.

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Don’t Be Too Proud To Beg, Well, Ask for Help

On its surface, Full House is nothing but funny jokes, Uncle Jesse’s (John Stamos) good looks, and the Olsen twins being the definition of cute, but the show’s premise is rooted in something real: Danny Tanner’s (Bob Saget) wife was killed by a drunk driver, so he enlisted the help of Jesse and Uncle Joey (Dave Coulier a.k.a. the dude who broke Alanis Morrissette’s heart) in raising his three children. Yes, Danny could have done this on his own as there are plenty of single-parent homes, but he also knew that he didn’t have to. I know, I know. That’s TV, and in real life, it can be tough to ask for a hand in accomplishing something because we all have that Erykah Badu “strong black woman” vibe (even if you’re not black, if you listen to Erykah Badu, you will call yourself a strong black woman), but there’s no time like the present (or via Full House reruns on Nick at Night) to learn that asking for help is a sign of strength and not weakness.

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Forget Reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad. You Can Learn All You Need To Know About Finances With Monopoly Money

The very first episode of The Cosby Show features one of the series most memorable scenes: Theo (Malcolm-Jamal Warner) brings home a bad report card and tells his dad Cliff (Bill Cosby) not to worry because instead of being a doctor or lawyer, he’ll just be a regular person, as if that’s a job position one can find on Monster.com. Cliff, in a matter of minutes and with Monopoly money, shows his son that being a regular person doesn’t mean you escape responsibility. Like the saying goes, “Nothing is certain but death and taxes,” and that having a girlfriend will make your checking account dry up faster than a raisin in the sun.

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Like a Sports Bra During a 90-Minute Boot Camp Class, Dads Will Support You When Times Get Tough

Juno, the breakout hit of 2007, told the story of a pregnant teen (Ellen Page) deciding what to do with her unborn child. The snappy dialogue and excellent acting by Page, Jennifer Garner, and Jason Bateman got all the attention, but one of the movie’s best moments is the way that Juno’s dad (JK Simmons) handles the news that his daughter is preggers. He’s angry, confused, and disappointed, but he’s also compassionate. Instead of flipping out, he lets this information marinate and then decides on a course of action. Point is that no dad can predict everything that will happen in his child’s life, but the good ones are always supportive.

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Always Be Prepared

In an episode of Girls, Hannah Horvath (Lena Dunham) did something that I can proudly say I haven’t even come close to doing: Help her dad after he falls out the shower due to sex cramps. Yikes. I’d maybe help my dad if he had a brain fart and couldn’t remember Nicki Minaj’s name. But sex cramps? Eek. In all seriousness, Hannah’s dilemma is certainly every child’s nightmare, but what we can learn from this scene is to always be prepared, especially in a time of crisis. Sure, she was a little freaked out, but she dived right in and saved the day because if the shoe were on the other foot, her dad would do the same thing for her.

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Discover Your Own Identity and Potential (Although It Probably Helps if Your Dad Sounds Like James Earl Jones When Delivering This Message)

Almost nothing makes me grab a Kleenex quicker than watching Mufasa (James Earl Jones)’s death scene in The Lion King. But before he went off to the VIP section in heaven, he made sure to instill in his son Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas) the importance of living your best life, as Oprah would say. In Simba’s case, it was returning home and accepting his role as the next king. With us, our dads encourage to pursue our passions as writers, designers, and managers. But more important than a job title is knowing and recognizing who we are as people on the inside.

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Screw the Rules, Do Anything for Your Loved Ones

Anyone who’s seen Mrs. Doubtfire can admit that Daniel Hillard (Robin Williams) was not the best father at the beginning of the movie. He was too busy trying to be his childrens’ BFF, which is not advisable. It wasn’t until his wife (Sally Field) pulled the rug out from under him faster than a magician pulls a tablecloth from underneath dishes a.k.a. divorcing him and taking custody of their kids, that Daniel got his ish together. Sure, maybe dressing up as a Scottish housekeeper is not the Funk & Wagnalls definition of “having it together,” but instead of accepting only seeing his kids once a week, he did whatever it took to be in their lives and teach them lessons along the way.

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Dads Will Not Always Love the People You Hang Out With, But Will Put Up With Them for You

We all know that on Family Matters, Steve Urkel (Jaleel White) was a thorn in Carl Winslow (Reginald VelJohnson)’s side, yet Carl put up with him because Urkel was friends with his son. And it’s not like Urkel was merely awkward and a little bit of a pest. He constantly broke things, created giant misunderstandings, and did other shenanigans that he tried to make better with a “Did I do that?” quip. Despite all of this, Carl continually welcomed the blerd (a.k.a. black nerd) into his home, which is something we’ll all have to do at one point in our lives, whether it’s a significant other’s friend who we can’t stand or our child’s friend who is less than ideal. Papa Winslow has shown us that the best way to handle this situation is with a shake of the head and a kind heart.

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Sometimes Being a Hard Ass Isn’t Such a Bad Thing

Will Smith (Will Smith) is cool while Uncle Phil (James Avery) is a by-the-book stick in the mud on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. And I’m sure there are plenty of times where we wanted Uncle Phil to lighten up, but then he wouldn’t be doing his job as a parent. Sometimes it’s good to say no. Sometimes it’s good to not act impulsively. Sometimes it’s good to act responsibly. Yeah, acting like you have some sense might make you more of an L7 than using the term “L7,” but obviously, there are more important things in life than being liked everybody. Making tough decisions that may make someone unhappy is something to get good at doing. If only there were a laugh track to smooth everything over.

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Justice Is Not Just the Name of a Dance Team That I See On the Train, But It’s Also a Concept You Should Live By

To Kill A Mockingbird’s Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) is probably the most ideal and noble lawyer in the history of cinema and literature. He defends Tom Robinson, a black man falsely accused of sexually assaulting a white woman, even though the deck is stacked against. Finch didn’t care how dire things were (his family was put in danger) because in his mind, the evidence clearly proves that Robinson was incapable of such a crime. In short, as hard as it may be sometimes, it’s important to stand up for what’s right instead of silently going along with what’s wrong—even if you’re standing alone.

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Remember: Clear Eyes, Full Hearts, Can’t Lose

Every episode of Friday Night Lights became an exercise in trying not to weep at every dramatic moment. Think of it as Kama Sutra for the eyeballs. We’d always be fine until dreamy Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) delivered a rousing speech and then ended it with, “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose” and down came the tears. Taylor’s six simple words are more than about winning on the football field: They are about imparting a sense of hope, encouraging people to strive for greatness, and to keep going when the going gets tough. Thanks, Coach.